The Tibet Film Festival London returns this year with a rich program of premieres, workshops, and special screenings, offering audiences a rare opportunity to experience Tibetan stories on the big screen and engage directly with filmmakers, scholars, and cultural leaders. Celebrating the Year of Compassion in honour of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday, the festival opens with a special screening of Wisdom of Happiness, presented in partnership with Abramorama.
Wisdom of Happiness delivers a timeless message: even amidst chaos and uncertainty, happiness remains attainable. Through intimate conversations with Nobel Peace Prize winner Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, the film shares practical wisdom on cultivating peace, compassion, and hope in everyday life. The screening will feature a Q&A with Executive Producer Richard Gere, Directors Barbara Miller and Philip Delaquis, and Tencho Gyatso, President of the International Campaign for Tibet, providing audiences with some insight into the making of this humanistic film.
“This film reminds us that compassion can be our strongest force for change,” says festival organizers. “It encourages us to imagine a world where happiness is within reach for everyone.”
Short Film Competition and UK Premiere: My Sweet Pala
On Tuesday, 28th October 2025, the festival presents the UK premiere of Tao Okamoto’s short film My Sweet Pala alongside eight preselected films from the Tibet Film Festival Short Film Competition. Screening at Genesis Cinema, Whitechapel at 6:30pm, the program presents emerging Tibetan filmmakers from around the world, giving them a platform to share their stories and perspectives.
The Short Film Competition has become a vital biennial event, allowing audiences to cast votes for the London Audience Award, while the 2025 Jury Award Winner will also be announced. My Sweet Pala follows eleven-year-old Pema, the daughter of Tibetan immigrants in the United States, as her sheltered life is disrupted by an unforeseen event, revealing the realities her father had shielded her from. Special guest Wangpo Tethong, co-founder of the Tibet Film Festival in Zurich, will join the evening.
UK Premiere: State of Statelessness + Workshop
On Saturday, 1st November 2025, The Garden Cinema, Covent Garden, will host the UK premiere of State of Statelessness by Drung Collective at 2pm. The first Tibetan-language anthology feature, the film explores themes of statelessness and migration through four beautiful stories of Tibetans living in exile. Dr. Dawa Lokyitsang, cultural anthropologist, will introduce the screening.
Following the film, Dr. Lokyitsang will lead “Our Stories, Our History”, a hands-on workshop at The Poetry Cafe at 4:30pm. The session will explore how individual narratives shape the history and collective memory of Tibet, highlighting the importance of preserving these stories in exile. The workshop is open to adults aged 18 and over and requires a separate ticket.
Closing Film: Mola – A Tibetan Tale of Love and Loss
The festival concludes on Sunday, 2nd November 2025, with the UK premiere of the award-winning documentary Mola – A Tibetan Tale of Love and Loss by Yangzom Brauen and Martin Brauen at Rio Cinema, Hackney, at 3:15pm. The film chronicles the life of Kunsang Wangmo, “Mola”, a Buddhist nun exiled from Tibet since 1959, whose final wish is to return to her homeland. With her 100th birthday approaching, the documentary captures her journey home with grace and subtlety.
After the screening, Lama Zangmo, Director and Resident Teacher at the Kagyu Samye Dzong London Buddhist Centre, will lead a short meditation and discussion on the themes of compassion, death, and impermanence, followed by a Q&A session with the audience.
The Tibet Film Festival London 2025 offers a remarkable opportunity to engage with Tibetan culture, history, and cinematic storytelling. From profound documentaries to short films that illuminate everyday experiences, the festival highlights the strength and humanity of Tibetans worldwide.
For tickets and more information, visit the festival’s official site: tibetfilmfestival.org.
Featured image courtesy TFF London 2025
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